Manchester City assistant boss David Platt has admitted that replays of the incident inwhich Mario Balotelli stamped on Scott Parker’s head ‘do not look good’.

The Italian striker has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association and will face a four-match ban, as he received a red card earlier in the season. Manchester City are still undecided about appealing the ban.

City have until 6pm on Wednesday to make their appeal. If they accept the ban, Balotelli will be suspended for tomorrow’s crucial Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Liverpool.

If they appeal and the player has his case denied, he runs the risk of having his suspension increased to five games. David Platt said: "We are likely to be without a player for four games."

City failed to overturn a four-match suspension for Vincent Kompany earlier this month, a result which many people did expect. Platt continued: "I don't think anybody thought we would win an appeal with Vincent Kompany, even though the majority of people didn't feel he deserved a red card or a four-match ban. It shows the futility of an appeal sometimes.

"This looks poor when you slow it down."

City are annoyed that Howard Webb did not get a good enough view to make a decision and allowed the FA to take control yesterday.

Platt continued: "It seems inconsistent; I have seen it from an angle where I can think the referee saw it live, like I did. Other people saw it live and didn't react, nobody, not one of the Tottenham players or staff. The referee didn't react live. It is when you slow it down that all the reactions come.

"I don't know what has gone on but there seems a huge inconsistency in refereeing matches on a Monday morning. Shouldn't you revisit everything that has happened over the weekend?"

The premier league leaders’ manager, Roberto Mancini, requested that his right-hand man face the media over concerns about his latest demise in the media. Mancini has made headlines in recent weeks due to his persistence in waving an imaginary card to officials, something which the manager attacked Wayne Rooney for doing.